{{Short description|Scottish private military unit}} {{for|other units with the same regimental number|77th Regiment of Foot (disambiguation)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2025}} {{Use British English|date=November 2025}} {{Infobox military unit | unit_name = The Atholl Highlanders | image = Murray of Atholl.PNG | caption = Cap Badge of the Atholl Highlanders | dates = 1839–present | country = {{flag|Scotland}} | branch = | type = Ceremonial Infantry | role = Personal bodyguard | size = One [[Company (military unit)|company]] | command_structure = [[Private army]] | current_commander = Lieutenant Colonel [[Charles Hay, 16th Earl of Kinnoull|The Earl of Kinnoull]] | garrison = [[Blair Atholl]] | ceremonial_chief = [[Bruce Murray, 12th Duke of Atholl]] | ceremonial_chief_label = Colonel-in-Chief | colonel_of_the_regiment = | nickname = | motto = ''Furth Fortune and Fill the Fetters'' | colors = | identification_symbol_2 = [http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb309/hammersfan_01/Tartans/MurrayofAtholl.gif Murray of Atholl] | identification_symbol_2_label = Tartan | march = ''The Atholl Highlanders'' | mascot = | battles = | notable_commanders = | anniversaries = }}
The '''Atholl Highlanders''' is a Scottish [[Private military company|private]] ceremonial infantry [[regiment]]. The regiment is not part of the [[British Armed Forces]] but under the command of the [[Duke of Atholl]], and based at [[Blair Castle]], [[Blair Atholl]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://blair-castle.co.uk/|title=Blair Castle, Pitlochry, Perthshire- 5* Visitor Attraction and Campsite|website=Blair Castle|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-12}}</ref> Although it has no military role, the men are armed with 19th-century [[Lee–Metford]] rifles, and the regiment includes a [[pipe band]]. Around the size of an army [[Company (military unit)|company]], they are now a tourist attraction at Blair Castle, taking part in annual parades.
It acted as the personal bodyguard to the dukes, chiefs of the [[Clan Murray]], who lived in [[Perthshire]] for roughly seven centuries.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://blair-castle.co.uk/scottish-highland-castle/atholl-highlanders-parade-gathering/|title=Atholl Highland Gathering weekend - Blair Atholl, Highland Games, Pitlochry|website=Blair Castle|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-12}}</ref> Joining the Highlanders is by invitation from the duke, who selects men with ties to the estate or the local area. The current duke lives in South Africa, and has travelled to inspect the Highlanders at their annual parades. It has been described as the only legal private army in Europe.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/obituaries/obituary-john-murray-11th-duke-of-atholl-retired-south-african-surveyor-who-inherited-one-of-scotlands-most-ancient-titles-1627014|title=Obituary: John Murray, 11th Duke of Atholl, retired South African surveyor who inherited one of Scotland's most ancient titles|publisher=[[The Scotsman]]|date=19 May 2012}}</ref>
==History== ===First raising as a regular regiment in the British Army=== The regiment was raised in [[Perthshire]] by [[John Murray, 4th Duke of Atholl]] as the '''77th Regiment of Foot (or Atholl Highlanders, or Murray's Highlanders)''' in December 1777.<ref name=regiments>{{Cite web|url=http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/inf/077athol.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080118043350/http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/inf/077athol.htm|url-status = dead|archive-date=18 January 2008|title=The Atholl Highlanders [77th Regiment of Foot]|publisher=Regiments.org|access-date=19 February 2017}}</ref> The regiment was formed as a relief for other regiments serving in North America, and spent most of its existence in [[Ireland]].<ref name=locations>{{cite web|url=http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/inf/077athol.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080118043350/http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/inf/077athol.htm|url-status = dead|archive-date=18 January 2008|title=The Atholl Highlanders [77th Regiment of Foot]: Locations|publisher=Regiments.org|access-date=19 February 2017}}</ref> The terms upon which the regiment was raised stated that the men were to be employed for either three years or the duration of the war in America.<ref name=locations/> In 1781, the original three-year term ended, and the men expected the regiment to be disbanded.<ref name=locations/> However, the regiment was transported to England and marched to [[Portsmouth]] to be embarked for service in [[India]].<ref name=locations/> Upon learning of this, the men mutinied, and the embarkation orders were countermanded.<ref name=locations/> The regiment was marched to [[Berwick-upon-Tweed|Berwick]], where it disbanded in 1783.<ref name=locations/>
===Second raising as a private regiment of the Duke of Atholl=== [[File:Atholl Highlanders inspection 2017-05-27.jpg|thumb|The Atholl Highlanders on parade in 2017]] [[File:Atholl Highlanders dress.jpg|thumb|The full dress of the Atholl Highlanders]] More than 50 years later, in 1839, [[George Murray, 6th Duke of Atholl]], as Lord Glenlyon, re-formed the regiment<ref name=regiments/> as a bodyguard which he took to [[Eglinton Tournament of 1839|the Eglinton Tournament]] at [[Eglinton Castle]], [[Ayrshire]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/heraldic-shield-returns-blair-castle-2746975|title=Heraldic shield returns to Blair Castle|publisher=Daily Record|date=5 February 2010|access-date=19 February 2017}}</ref> Three years later, in 1842, the regiment escorted [[Queen Victoria]] during her tour of [[Perthshire]] and, in 1844, when the Queen stayed as a guest of the Duke at [[Blair Castle]], the regiment mounted the guard for the entire duration of her stay.<ref name=record>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/queen-victoria-fascinating-royal-story-8058071|title=Queen Victoria and the fascinating royal story behind the Duke of Atholl's private army revealed|publisher=Daily Record|date=26 May 2016|access-date=19 February 2017}}</ref> In recognition of the service that the regiment provided during her two visits, the Queen announced that she would present the Atholl Highlanders with [[colours, standards and guidons|colours]], thus giving the regiment official [[Scottish regiment]] status, in perpetuity.<ref name=record/> The regiment's first stand of colours was presented by Lady Glenlyon in 1845.<ref name=record/> It received new colours in 1979 from [[Myra Butter]], the wife of the [[Lord Lieutenant of Perth and Kinross]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://clanmurray.org/clans-septs.html|publisher=Clan Murray Newsletter - The Aitionn|title=Presentation of New Colors to The Atholl Highlanders By Evelyn M.E. Murray, FSA Scot|year=2006|access-date=19 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170220013506/http://clanmurray.org/clans-septs.html|archive-date=20 February 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> A third stand of colours was presented in 2006 by the Duchess of Atholl.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gettyimages.co.uk/event/atholl-highlanders-annual-parade-71059480#members-of-the-athol-highlanders-parade-at-blair-atholl-castle-on-may-picture-id71067082|title=Members of the Atholl Highlanders parade at Blair Atholl on 27 May 2006|publisher=Getty images|access-date=19 February 2017}}</ref> [[File:Murray of Atholl and Atholl Highlanders tartan, centred, zoomed out.png|thumb|left|alt=A primarily blue, green, and black tartan based on Black Watch but with red over-checks on the green and on the "bare" blue, not on the blue with black "tram tracks".|Murray of Atholl tartan, used in the uniforms of the Atholl Highlanders since 1839]] Under John Stewart-Murray, [[John Stewart-Murray, 7th Duke of Atholl|7th Duke]], the regiment regularly provided guards for royal visitors to Blair Castle (which was a convenient stopping point on the journey to [[Balmoral Castle|Balmoral]]). The regiment also attended the [[Braemar#Braemar Gathering|Braemar Gathering]], while the annual Atholl Gathering was held in the first week in September in which the regiment paraded, then participated in various trials of strength and stamina. Following the [[First World War]], parades of the regiment became fewer, although it did provide guards when the [[Hirohito|Crown Prince of Japan]] and [[Faisal I of Iraq|King Faisal of Iraq]] visited Blair Castle in 1921 and 1933 respectively.<ref name=summer>{{cite web|url=http://www.atholl-estates.co.uk/summer06.pdf#search=%22atholl%20highlanders%22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061005182252/http://www.atholl-estates.co.uk/summer06.pdf#search=%22atholl%20highlanders%22|url-status = dead|archive-date=2006-10-05|title= Atholl Highlanders|publisher=Atholl Estates Newsletter|date=2006|access-date=19 February 2017}}</ref>
After many years of inactivity the regiment remained in abeyance until in 1966, when it was reformed by [[Iain Murray, 10th Duke of Atholl]]. The 10th Duke made the decision to revive the regiment’s annual parade.<ref name="record" /> To this effect eight local men mostly estate employees and all with previous military service training were invited to join, seven accepted. They paraded on 8 April 1966 at Blair Castle for the first time in 33 years.<ref name="castle">{{cite web|title=The History of the Atholl Highlanders|url=https://blair-castle.co.uk/scottish-highland-castle/atholl-highlanders-parade-gathering/|publisher=Blair Castle|access-date=7 April 2020}}</ref> They marched past the Duke led by two Atholl Highlander pipers. In 1973 the regiment returned to the [[Braemar Gathering]] and took part in a march past in front of the [[Elizabeth II|Queen]] and other members of the royal family.<ref name=castle/> The Atholl Gathering was re-introduced at Target Park in June 1984.<ref name=castle/>
It was feared that the regiment would be disbanded following the 10th Duke's death in 1996, until his successor, [[John Murray, 11th Duke of Atholl]], wrote to the estate trustees insisting that he would continue his traditional role.<ref name="11thDuke">{{cite news|title=The Duke of Atholl|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/9272670/The-Duke-of-Atholl.html|date=17 May 2012 |access-date=20 May 2012|newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]]}}</ref><ref>Daily Mirror, 20 March 1996</ref> The 11th Duke, although resident in [[South Africa]], visited [[Blair Atholl]] almost every year to inspect the regiment's annual parade until his death.<ref name="11thDuke"/> The 12th Duke continues this tradition.<ref name=":3">{{cite web|url=https://www.jacarandafm.com/shows/bruce-murray-12th-duke-of-atholl/|title=Bruce Murray, 12th Duke of Atholl|publisher=Jacaranda FM|access-date=19 February 2017}}</ref>
The Atholl Highlanders continue with the [[Bruce Murray, 12th Duke of Atholl|current Duke of Atholl]] as their [[Colonel-in-chief|Colonel-in-Chief]].<ref name=":3" />
==Alliances== *{{ZAF}} – [[Solomon Mahlangu Regiment]] (formerly the Transvaal Scottish) *{{UK}} – [[Fife and Forfar Yeomanry/Scottish Horse]]
==See also== *[[Military history of Scotland]] *[[Lonach Highlanders]] *[[Clan Murray]]
{{Clear}}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons}} *[https://blair-castle.co.uk/scottish-highland-castle/atholl-highlanders-parade-gathering/ The History of the Atholl Highlanders] *[https://houseoflabhran.com/blog/atholl-highlanders-silver-regimental-sgian-dubh Atholl Highlanders Insignia & Sgian Dubh] *{{YouTube|9J_nKFRpd3g|"Atholl Highlanders March"}}
{{Regiments of Foot}} {{Authority control}}
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1777]] [[Category:Military units and formations established in 1839]] [[Category:Guards regiments]] [[Category:Bodyguards]] [[Category:Scottish regiments]] [[Category:Perth and Kinross]] [[Category:Highland regiments]] [[Category:Clan Murray]] [[Category:Private armies]] [[Category:Scottish ceremonial units]]